Canadian guys----robertson screws

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2005: Canadian guys----robertson screws
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chad's_T on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 10:57 pm:

O.K., im trying to find where i can get the screwdrivers and some screws that are in my canadian car, it seems from what i read trying to search that you guys still use these things. Is there anyplace online i can shop from? Or can i pay one of you guys to get what i need and ship it to me? I haven't found a site from which i can readily purchase this stuff.

--chad


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Gaspers on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 11:00 pm:

http://www.robertsonscrew.com/ found this on Google also has screwdrivers


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By garry Potter on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 11:16 pm:

Chad
I live in Canada and could help.
Call Dixie Upholstery and speak to Gene Franklin who has plenty of Robertson. I assume you are looking for interior screws. He restores Model T and Model A cars.
If he can not help please advise me of your needs and I will search for you. However I am heading to Florida for 3 months so there may be a delay
Garry Potter


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garry Potter on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 11:17 pm:

Chad
I forgot to give you Gene's telephone at 519 748-1648 in Kitchener, Ontario
Garry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie Tosch on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 12:57 am:

Chad,

I'm in Canada too and would be more than willing to get what you need and send it to you. Also, here is the info on a large Canadian Ford parts supplier who specializes in Model T and A and early V-8. I think he likely has anything you may need. I don't think he has a website so you will probably have to call him.

George Moir Antique Auto Parts Ltd.
#1 Boulder Boulevard
Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1V6
Phone (780) 963-7334 Fax (780) 963-6187

Charlie


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Jablonski on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 12:58 am:

Didn't Robertson screws appear on the market in the "30's ???? Why on a Model T ??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Jablonski on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 01:01 am:

Sorry, must have neen thinking of Phillips screws


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chad's_T on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 09:57 am:

Thanks guys, i will have to figure out what i need and get a list. How do you guys measure the length? In mm or cm? Also, how do i know what # size head i already have in the car?

Although the car is not totally original, it is one of those features id like to keep. Its a unique feature that i can always point out here in the states.

--chad


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chad's_T on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 10:01 am:

Bob, here is one of the articles i found on the screws. Remeber my car has them because its a canadian car.



A Robertson screwdriver is a type of screwdriver with a square-shaped tip with a slight taper (in the same way that flatheads, Phillips, Allen, and Torx have flat, ×-shaped, hexagonal, and hexagrammal tips, respectively).

P.L. Robertson invented the Robertson screw and screwdriver in 1908. He received a patent in 1909, and later applied for and received other patents. The last patent expired in 1964.

The drivers are famous for holding onto screws (you can start driving a screw horizontally into the wall, and leave the screwdriver in the screw while you have lunch), and allow for things like an angled screw driver and trim head screws.

Robertson screwdrivers have a colour coded handle for easy selection as different screw sizes require different size tips. The colours and their associated screw sizes are:

Orange (#00) — No. 1 & 2 screws (uncommon)
Yellow (#0) — No. 3 & 4 screws
Green (#1) — No. 5, 6 & 7 screws
Red (#2) — No. 8, 9 & 10 screws
Black (#3) — No. 12 and larger screws
Robertson had licenced the screw in England but the party he was dealing with intentionally put the company under and purchased the rights from the trustee thus circumventing Robertson. He spent a small fortune buying back the rights. After that he refused to ever allow anyone to make the screws under license. When Henry Ford tried out the Robertson screws he found they saved considerable time in the production of the cars but when Robertson refused to license the screws to Ford, he realised that the use of the screws would not be guaranteed and stopped using them. This largely explains why they never became established in the United States.

Today Robertson screws are scarce in the United States, accounting for 10% of screws sold, while being very common in Canada, where 85% of the screws sold use the Robertson head.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garry Potter on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 10:10 am:

Chad
What year and style of T are you restoring. I have a 27 Canadian touring. Also have an American 26 Fordor I am restoring. I have a 1919 USA Delivery wagon.
Good luck
Garry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chad's_T on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 10:52 am:

Garry, im working on what im calling a 24 touring that is cut down into a pickup. I say im calling it that because it was registered off the motor # which is a '20 but the car has many 24/25 american features on it that i dont think from what i have found would possibly be on a any 1920 T----the high radiator is one giveaway. here is a pic when i first got it home

--chad


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie Tosch on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 11:42 am:

Chad,

The Robertson Head screws are measured exactly the same way regular screws are measured. The screw numbers are the same, the length is measured in inches. The heads have the same shapes, ie, flat, round, oval, truss, etc, etc. It's just the drive portion of the head that is different, a square drive rather than a slot or phillips or whatever. Some Canadians don't even know the correct nomenclature for the screws. I hear some saying the number of the SCREWDRIVER is the number of the screw. ("Give me a #2 Robertson screw" when they actually are asking for a #10 screw which uses a #2 Robertson Screwdriver [the red handled one].)As you found out above, various numbered screwdrivers fit different sized screws, much like the phillips system.

Don't make it overly complicated. Just ask for the screws exactly the same way you would ask for phillips headed screws but instead of phillips screws, ask for Robertson Screws.

Canada did not go metric until sometime in the 1980's if memory serves me correctly. We still use imperial measurements (inches and feet) for a lot of things, especially building materials. Plywood still comes in 4'x8' sheets, walls are usually 8' high, etc. So, we have to be able to use both systems.

Charlie


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David_Cockey on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 02:21 pm:

McFeely's specializes in Robertson aka "square drive screws".
www.mcfeelys.com
Note - I have no direct experience with McFeely's.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By J.W. on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 02:53 pm:

Chad, send me a list of the screws you need and I wil get them for you, and the proper driver to fit them.
You can get the various size bits that will fit into the magnetic drivers, there are I believe 3 different bit sizes.
As the other guy mentioned use the same measurement as you would the Philips, or others. They also come in machine screws as well. They are commonly called socket head screws, "Robertson" that is.
Chad, here is a look at the different types and names of the screws, at the top of the page. It also shows the socket of Robertson Head.Screw Pic


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Stoeckley on Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 08:07 pm:

Chad,
You might consider getting a good assortment rather than trying to come up with a list. That's what I did. I got mine at Home Depot in Canada. You might ask one of our Canadian friends who offered help if they could get you one. I think that McFeely's also has assortments.


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